The governor-elect said that his administration would interface with the people across the three senatorial zones of the state from bottom to top and ensure that the people determine what government would do for them.

He said his government would be people-oriented because it was the first time since 1999 that Kwara peoples’ votes counted and their will come to pass.

Abdulrazaq said that in line with the party manifesto, his administration would place priority attention to security, agriculture, education and infrastructure development.

Abdulrazaq said that Kwara being an agrarian state, his administration would pay attention to farming and agro processing.

Specifically, he said the state would among other crops, increase cashew production and processing for export to create employment and increase internally generated revenue.

The governor-elect lamented the poor state of infrastructure in public schools in the state as well as non-payment of salaries of teachers and other civil servants, and assured to reverse the trend.

“We will set up a transition committee that will interface with the government and we will have a forensic audit of the paying system to formulate new policies.

“We will organise health care summit. Education summit and special summit on how to improve the state infrastructure,’’ he said.

Abdulrazaq reassured the traditional institution in the state that, contrary to the news making the round, his administration will not demote any traditional ruler but will work with them and count on their useful advice. (NAN)Share this post with your friends and also share your thoughts by adding your comments below.

Governor-elect of Kwara, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has pledged that his administration will be accountable to the people and will not steal or loot the state’s treasury.

APC’s Abdulrahman Abdulrazak: confirmed Kwara governor-elect by INEC

Abdulrazaq gave the pledge at a media briefing on Sunday night in Ilorin where he delivered his acceptance speech amidst All Progressive Congress (APC) party supporters.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the event was attended by Mr. Kayode Alabi, Kwara Deputy Governor-elect; Alhaji Lai Mohammed the Minister of Information and Culture; Mr. Bashir Bolarinwa, the Kwara APC Chairman; and many other party chieftains.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially declared Abdulrazaq of APC winner of the Saturday governorship election having polled a total of 331,546 votes to defeat Abdulrazaq Atunwa of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 114,754 votes.

APC also won all the 24 seats in the Kwara House of Assembly.

“Kwara people have decided and that has put a lot of responsibilities on us.

“ We cannot afford to fail and we cannot afford to steal and loot the treasury.

“God forbid that after three years, people will regret that why did they vote this new government. I can assure you that will not happen.

“We will work tirelessly as a team to deliver and make sure people start feeling the effects of government and dividends of democracy,’’ he said.

He decried the situation where previous administrations had mismanaged and stolen the resources of the state to the detriment of the majority of the citizens.

The governor-elect said that his administration would interface with the people across the three senatorial zones of the state from bottom to top and ensure that the people determine what government would do for them.He said his government would be people-oriented because it was the first time since 1999 that Kwara peoples’ votes counted and their will come to pass.

Abdulrazaq said that in line with the party manifesto, his administration would place priority attention to security, agriculture, education and infrastructure development.

He noted that the state had become so insecure to the extent that banking operations had been suspended in the entire Kwara South senatorial zone, after the Offa robbery saga,

“This development is seriously affecting the economic development in the zone. We will interface with the Police to address the challenge of insecurity

“The Offa robbery where 33 people were killed, based on police investigation was linked to top government officials.

“We will also interface with the Police to ensure that the judicial process is logically concluded and perpetrators are brought to book,’’ he said.

Abdulrazaq said Kwara being an agrarian state, his administration would pay attention to farming and agro processing.

Specifically, he said the state would among other crops, increase cashew production and processing for export to create employment and increase internally generated revenue.

The governor-elect lamented the poor state of infrastructure in public schools in the state as well as non-payment of salaries of teachers and other civil servants, and assured to reverse the trend.

“We will set up a transition committee that will interface with the government and we will have a forensic audit of the paying system to formulate new policies.

“We will organise health care summit. Education summit and special summit on how to improve the state infrastructure,’’ he said.

Abdulrazaq reassured the traditional institution in the state that, contrary to the news making the round, his administration will not demote any traditional ruler but will work with them and count on their useful advice. (NAN)Share this post with your friends and also share your thoughts by adding your comments below.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared as “inconclusive”, outcome of the governorship election in Bauchi state and will therefore conduct a re-run within 21 days.

INEC ballot box

Prof. Mohammed Kyari, Returning Officer who made the declaration on Monday said that apart from the cancellation of the result from entire Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area because of irregularities, the exercise in some other polling units also suffered the same fate.

“The margin between the winner and opponent is less than the total number of votes cancelled in some polling units.

“By law, since the margin of winner is less than the total number of votes cancelled and registered voters in the areas where the votes have been cancelled, this elections is hereby declared inconclusive,” he said.

He said his decision was in line with section 26 part 53 of the Electoral Act.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while announcing the votes garnered by the two contending parties before declaring the outcome inconclusive, the Returnig Officer had given the scores of incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar of APC as 465,453 votes and that of Bala Mohammed of PDP as 469,512 votes.

Kyari said that the Independent National Electoral Commission would conduct re- run election within 21 days in the affected Local Government area and polling unit which results had been cancelled before the final announcement of the winner.

NAN reports that earlier in the day, the INEC Collation Officer in charge of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, Mrs Dominion Anosike, had told the Returning Officer that the original result sheet was snatched by some thugs.

She said the thugs later came back with an improvised result sheet and forced her to declare its content as being the outcome of the election in the local government area.

Serena Williams has dropped out of the Indian Wells tournament without completing her first match because of some viral illness.

Serena Williams drops out of Indian Wells after viral illness

It was her first tournament since the Australian Open.

But it came to an abrupt end on Sunday as the ailing 23-time Grand Slam champion retired from her third-round WTA match against Garbine Muguruza.

Muguruza was leading 6-3, 1-0 when Williams called it a day in the battle of former world number ones.

“Before the match, I did not feel great, and then it just got worse with every second; extreme dizziness and extreme fatigue,” Williams said in comments released via tournament organizers.

The 10th-seeded American, continuing to work her way back up the rankings in the wake of time off to have a baby, had made a strong start, winning the first three games.

But she called for the trainer after dropping six straight.

After a long talk with medical personnel Williams took the court for the second set, but after Muguruza held serve at love Williams called a halt.

“By the score, it might have looked like I started well, but I was not feeling at all well physically,” Williams said. “I will focus on getting better and start preparing for Miami.”

It was the sixth meeting between Muguruza and Williams, all five prior coming in Grand Slams.

The last two of those were in finals, with Williams beating the Spaniard for the Wimbledon title in 2015 and Muguruza taking the 2016 French Open crown.

It was a tough draw for Williams, who defeated former world number one Victoria Azarenka in her second-round opener.

Muguruza was sorry to see it end the way it did.

“We’ve played many times and it’s always super-tough, super-exciting,” Muguruza said.

“I wish I’m going to see her soon and feeling better,” added the Spaniard, who advanced to a fourth-round clash with seventh-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, a 7-6 (12/10), 6-4 winner over Britain’s Johanna Konta.Share this post with your friends and also share your thoughts by adding your comments below.

The State Returning Officer, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, while announcing the results, said the APC candidate polled 739,445 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr Jimi Agbaje of the PDP, who polled 206,141votes.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Taofik Gani, in a statement in Lagos on Monday, said the congratulatory message was to exhibit sportmanship and show respect for the laws of the land.

The spokesman, however, said the if PDP had any reason to challenge the results, it shall not hesitate to do so.

Gani called on the governor-elect to accommodate everyone in victory and shun politics of seclusion and retaliation.

He advised the governor-elect not to go against anyone because of political or ideological differences.

“Lagosians will not accept any excuse for any failure in governance for any reason.

“We advise Mr Sanwo-Olu to hit the ground running, get competent hands, irrespective of party affiliation.

“This is necesssary so that all hands can be on deck to move Lagos State forward as it should be,” he said.

Speaking, Obasa, who also won the fifth mandate to represent Agege Constituency I at the Lagos Assembly, also felicitated with returning and new members-elect of the House.

He described the victory of APC as hard-earned but well deseved for the party at the polls.

“It was tough for us all but at the end of the day, a well deserved victory for all members of the party.

“It was a confirmation of the love Lagosians have for our great party and the giant strides we have been achieving in the state,” obasa said.

The speaker also expressed appreciation to Nigerians, particularly Lagos residents, for reposing and renewing their confidence in the APC, not only in the state, but also at the federal level.

He assured that Nigerians won’t regret the renewed mandate given to the APC.

“We have absolute confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; the Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, to deliver good governance.

“Therefore, I want to assure Nigerians, particularly Lagosians, that the APC administration at all levels will continue to put in place programmes and projects that will enhance your welfare and improve your standard of living,” he added.

Obasa said that Sanwo-Olu would take the state to greater heights.Share this post with your friends and also share your thoughts by adding your comments below.